as in prefigures
to give a slight indication of beforehand
a series of small tremors that foreshadowed the massive earthquake the next day
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Recent Examples of foreshadows
With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.
—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The book wonderfully foreshadows one of its best moments, but the film doesn’t do this at all, setting up the action with a few lines of dialog instead.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Zoom out across college athletics, and that resume foreshadows a divorce.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The move foreshadows a mandate on purchasing domestic AI silicon, according to a report from The Information.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The film smartly foreshadows what will befall Alma and Maggie and Hank.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Mercury’s entrance to Capricorn foreshadows an important business conversation.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
It was shot in 2020, but the story foreshadows events that occurred during its release year (2021) in Guinea, Southeastern Nigeria, Myanmar, and Sudan.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Opening with ominous footage of electrical towers and power lines trembling in high winds, the film swiftly foreshadows the disaster with drone shots of small towns surrounded by miles of forest.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The book wonderfully foreshadows one of its best moments, but the film doesn’t do this at all, setting up the action with a few lines of dialog instead.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Zoom out across college athletics, and that resume foreshadows a divorce.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The move foreshadows a mandate on purchasing domestic AI silicon, according to a report from The Information.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The film smartly foreshadows what will befall Alma and Maggie and Hank.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Mercury’s entrance to Capricorn foreshadows an important business conversation.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
It was shot in 2020, but the story foreshadows events that occurred during its release year (2021) in Guinea, Southeastern Nigeria, Myanmar, and Sudan.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Opening with ominous footage of electrical towers and power lines trembling in high winds, the film swiftly foreshadows the disaster with drone shots of small towns surrounded by miles of forest.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreshadows
Verb
-
The Kamm tail, with its upturned spoiler and flat panel adorned with Ferrari’s signature twin round taillights, is a nod to aerodynamics that prefigures the shape of the Lusso’s spiritual successor, the 275 GTB.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Tragedy strikes many times in this decades-spanning story, in many forms, but the defining event of Grainier’s life sees his home burned to the ground, an event that eerily prefigures the LA fires of early 2025.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With no apparent end to the Iran war in sight, GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan predicts a gallon of gas will keep rising.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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On Thursday, Oklahoma should have a break from severe weather, then on Friday, the National Weather Service predicts that severe thunderstorms are possible across mostly northern Oklahoma.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That implies helium supply won’t be restored anytime soon, pointed out Christopher Ecclestone, principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That implies your doctors and trainers and everyone involved get to take a look at it.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Charlie Weimers, a lawmaker from the right-wing Sweden Democrats and strong proponent of harsher migration policies, said Thursday’s vote heralds a new era in the EU.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Not to mention, at least in my case, winter is kept busy with trips to warm gyms for basketball games, whereas March heralds the spring sports season, the return of outdoor sports and bracing against the elements at baseball games.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One scenario nobody anticipates is a knock on the door from a Florida Department of Children and Families adult protection investigator.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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NetJets anticipates up to 775 flights to the Augusta area during the peak period this year, underscoring the widespread appeal of the iconic golf championship.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foreshadows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreshadows. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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